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Chancellor seeks formidible changes in ASUCLA

By Daily Bruin Staff

May 9, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Friday, May 10, 1996

Elected student officials could be removed from boardBy Patrick
Kerkstra

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

The last time Chancellor Charles Young descended from Murphy
Hall to a students’ association board meeting, he essentially
issued an order to the organization’s leaders: begin the seismic
renovation and expansion of Ackerman Union.

Today, Young will again pay a visit to the board. Many speculate
that this time, his message will be equally unequivocal: change the
structure of the board of directors, or risk it being
dissolved.

Young, seeking stability for the financially troubled
association, is advocating a number of changes in the board’s
makeup. Most significantly, he is seeking to purge the board of all
elected student officials.

At last month’s board meeting, members were faced with the same
challenge. But board members then refused to meet Young’s demands
and instead offered this compromise: elected officials may still
serve, but in a diminished capacity.

At this Friday’s special meeting, board members will discover
how their compromise was received.

"There’s been more pressure from the chancellor to compromise,"
said undergraduate board member Dan Ryu. "As we see it, we gave a
little, now the chancellor should give a little."

The stakes in this political game are high. Should the two sides
fail to come to an agreement, many fear Young will dissolve the
board and reconstitute the student’s association, eliminating the
student majority.

"This board may take it on the chin for transgressions of past
boards and executive directors," said graduate representative Dave
Kopplin.

Despite this threat, some board members are unwilling to yield
on their position.

"We’ve already compromised and come to a decision as a student
majority board," said York Chang, a board member and the
undergraduate president.

"If (the chancellor and ASUCLA management) can come in and
dissolve the board because they don’t like a decision, then the
‘student majority’ part of the board is an illusion," Chang
concluded.

Although most board members are upset with Young’s close
involvement, a sizable number agree with his plan to remove elected
officials.

Graduate student board member Peary Brug developed a
restructuring plan months ago that suggested the same measures
Young is championing now.

When Brug’s plan originally came to a vote in March, its
provisions were only narrowly defeated.

The Board of Directors meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at 2408
Ackerman Union.

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